As part of the CE4PR, the Renewable Energy Fund for Resilience in Burkina Faso (FERR-BF) is an innovative financing project implemented in Burkina Faso, between 2019 and 2023, by United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), with the financial support of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Ministère de l''Environnement, du Climat et du Développement durable - MECDD).
By focusing on the construction of an ecosystem of private and public actors engaged in building a renewable energy market, the FERR-BF developed sustainable clean energy solutions and business models for the most vulnerable populations, deprived of electricity and to support capital mobilisation for such companies. Burkina Faso has an electrification rate of only 20%, even lower in rural areas.
The solutions deployed, like improved cooking stoves, solar water pumps for irrigation, solar refrigeration or productive use appliances powered by solar photovoltaic system, provide employment and economic opportunities for vulnerable populations, women, youth, displaced people, and smallholder farmers. These solutions are also a way to be more resilient in terms of food, in the face of climate change and in the face of the political risks which isolate part of the Burkinabe territory.
To build this ecosystem, using a Market Systems Development approach, the FERR-BF mobilised public actors and supported energy service companies (ESCOs), developers and distributors, incubators, microfinance institutions and other financial service providers, through technical assistance, grants and/or loans.
With 80 percent of its population without electricity, Burkina Faso is lagging behind, which is hampering its economic and social development. For the low-income population, whose GDP per capita stands at $893 in 2021, access to energy remains too expensive. Unemployment among young people and women is high. Relying heavily on the agricultural sector, the country is challenged by the effects of climate change and persistent political instability.
Access to clean, safe and affordable energy is a prerequisite for development. Burkina Faso is therefore aiming for a national electrification rate of at least 50 percent in 2025-2030. This can be achieved by taking advantage of the abundant solar resources throughout the country, promoting the creation of green jobs along the way.
The "Fonds des Energies Renouvelables pour la Résilience au Burkina Faso" (FERR-BF), a project that ends in December 2023, had an official closing ceremony on November 28. Held in a hybrid format, the session allowed the presentation of the results of the project, which was implemented over a period of 4 years.
The project was implemented as part of the CE4PR (Clean Energy for People Resilience) program funded to the tune of USD 3,593,244 by the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity of the Grand Duchy, to whom we thank. Our thanks also go to the institutions under the Ministry of Energy Transition, Mines and Quarries and the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Foresight for their involvement and support in the various activities carried out.
As a reminder, the FERR-BF, begun in 2019 to meet the prerogatives of the Burkinabe government in terms of energy supply in rural areas, was formalized in continuity with the actions of the Programme to Support the Economic and Climate Resilience of the Populations of Burkina Faso through Financial and Digital Innovations (PARI).
The FERR-BF aimed to "strengthen the economic resilience and adaptation to climate change of vulnerable populations (women, youth, smallholder farmers, small entrepreneurs, micro and small businesses, and refugees) in rural and peri-urban areas of Burkina Faso by promoting access to energy solutions designed for productive uses and income-generating activities."
At the end of this implementation, the results are quite convincing. 50,590 final beneficiaries were served by the project thanks to the technical and financial support we provided to the 16 partners. A total of 10,198 clean energy equipment was sold, for approximately 10,000 tons of CO2 avoided. The companies supported were able to employ close top a 1,000 people.
Also, as a result of the trust we have placed in these companies, some of them have managed to mobilise more resources, to the tune of 6 millions dollars. Although there have been significant advances, this project is not an end in itself, but a springboard to new challenges and new opportunities, as much remains to be done; the renewable energy ecosystem in Burkina Faso still needs a strengthening of governmental and financial institutions on energy issues, an improvement in corporate Research & Development, as well as an increase in financing in the sector.
Conversely, negative trends over the same period include the persistent security crisis, which disrupts electrification projects, sometimes leading to the termination or suspension of contracts even in unaffected areas. Political reasons have caused some donors to withdraw, abandoning previously approved projects. Furthermore, there has been a surge in equipment costs and a shortage of available experts.
Energy is the key to development, underpinning the continent's transition to industrialisation by meeting its primary needs. Consequently, it is essential for emerging countries like Burkina Faso to focus on their natural resource potential and take a leadership role. There is favourable regulation supporting this strategy, and it is crucial for the country to enhance its cooperation with these nations.
Emerging countries must also gradually strengthen their position in climate negotiations, positioning themselves as proactive players in the fight against global warming rather than presenting themselves as resigned victims of international injustice. As the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, Western countries must assert their leadership by actively participating in climate efforts.
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